Page 101 of My Fiancé's Brother
At the hospital,I waited on a hard chair in the lounge. My stomach turned uneasily at the overpowering smell of antiseptic. I huddled, watching as Jackson talked to the cops and an ER doctor in the hallway. What had happened? All we were told so far was that Matt was in surgery.
I watched as Jackson ran his fingers through his hair, nodded and then turned and walked towards me. He sat down on the chair beside me and leaned forward, so his arms rested on his knees. He turned his head so his serious green eyes could meet mine.
My voice shook. “What happened?”
“It was a single-vehicle accident. Matt was drunk. He lost control of his car going over a bridge, and he flipped the vehicle upside down into the water.”
My hands flew up to cover my mouth.
“Some Samaritan who was jogging saw the entire thing happen. That guy just happened to be a water rescue diver.”
I couldn’t breathe, much less speak.
“When they pulled Matt out of the car, he wasn’t breathing.They did CPR on him for close to 35 minutes until the ambulance managed to start his heart again. They say he’s lucky to be alive.”
My breath was coming in and out of my chest in little gasps. “Is he going to be okay?”
He shook his head. “They don’t know at this point.”
The blood drained out of my face. “Oh no.”
He watched my face. “They just brought Matt into surgery. I need to go get Irene.”
I worked to bring oxygen into my lungs. My heart ached for the woman who was going to wake up to the worst news a person can hear.
“Emily, I don’t want to leave you here alone, but I can’t tell her this on the phone and then ask her to get here by herself.”
I shook my head. “No. You have to go.”
He wrapped a huge arm around me and hugged me close so that he could kiss my forehead. “I want you to call Beth. You shouldn’t be here alone.”
“I will.”
He paused. “You can’t tell Irene that you and Matt broke up.”
“What? You want me to lie?”
His expression was gentle. “You can let Matt tell her when he wakes up. But right now, Irene will feel helpless and alone. And she needs you to be there, right beside her. Let her lean on you, as his fiancé.”
My eyes searched his face. “I'm a terrible liar.”
He cupped my face with his hand. “I know you are. That’s one of the things I adore about you most.”
His thumb wiped a tear from my cheek. “Are you going to be okay here?”
I squared my shoulders and nodded. “I am. Just go get Irene.”
He stood up and then hesitated. I stood up, and he turned to envelop me in a strong hug. I felt his strength seep into my body. I breathed in his scent. And then he stepped back and was gone.
Beth showedup in record time. We didn’t speak. We just sat huddled together in the family waiting room for something to happen. We waited for the doctors to tell us that Matt had made it through surgery okay. Or for Irene and Jackson to show up. For some news. Beth went to get coffee for us, but other than that, she never left my side.
I sat, my knees up and my head on my knees. I felt numb. So much had happened in the last 24 hours, it didn’t even feel real.
“Are you okay?” Beth asked me for the hundredth time.
I looked over at her. “Should we call Julie?”
Her look was questioning borderline incredulous. “Julie?”
